Agenda item

Planning Reference – 231157

All documents associated with this application can be found at the following link and enter the refence number above:-

Link.

Planning Officer:  Samuel Smith

The Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning, which recommended:-

That the application for Detailed Planning Permission for the change of use of flat to Short Term Let accommodation (sui generis) with maximum occupancy of 4 people (Retrospective) at 8 Albury Mansions Aberdeen, be approved subject to the following conditions:-

Conditions

(01)  DURATION OF PERMISSION

The development to which this notice relates must be begun not later than the expiration of 3 years beginning with the date of this notice. If development has not begun at the expiration of the 3-year period, the planning permission lapses.

Reason - in accordance with section 58 (duration of planning permission) of the 1997 act.

(2) TIME LIMIT FOR SHORT-TERM LET USE

The hereby approved use of the property as Short-Term Let accommodation shall expire 5 years following the date of the grant of permission as stated on this notice, unless a further planning permission has been granted for continued use of the property as Short-Term Let accommodation in the meantime. Should no further planning permission be granted then the property shall revert to mainstream residential use as a flat after the aforementioned 5-year period.

Reason: In order to allow the local housing need and demand situation and the local economic benefits derived from the use of the property as a Short Term Let to be reassessed in 5 years’ time, to ensure that the loss of the property as residential accommodation would remain compliant with Policy 30 of NPF4.

The Committee heard from Samuel Smith, Planner, who spoke in furtherance of the application and answered various questions from Members.

The Committee then heard from Aileen Taylor and David Robertson, who both spoke against the proposed application and objected to the application.

The Convener moved, seconded by the Vice Convener:-

That the application be approved conditionally in line with the officer’s recommendation.

Councillor Boulton moved as an amendment, seconded by Councillor Farquhar:-

That the application be refused for the following reasons.

1.    The use of the property as a Short Term Let (STL) had a significant detrimental impact on the amenity of the immediate neighbouring residential properties within the application building beyond what would typically be expected if it were to be used as mainstream residential accommodation. This would be contrary to Policy H1 (Residential Areas) of the Aberdeen Local Development Plan (ALDP) 2023 and Policy 30 (Tourism) paragraph e(1) of National Planning Framework 4.  It was considered that the location of the proposal as an STL as a tourism use was not within the city centre or land allocated to tourism related use which was a requirement of Policy VC2 of the ALDP 2023.

2.    The proposal which was also identified as having the possibility to cause harm to the existing residents in the residential area was not considered to have met the locational requirements and was therefore contrary to policy VC2 (Tourism and Culture) of the ALDP 2023.

On a division, there voted – for the motion (8) – the Convener, the Vice Convener and Councillors Cooke, Copland, Henrickson, Macdonald, Malik and Radley – for the amendment (5) – Councillors Boulton, Clark, Farquhar, Lawrence and Thomson.

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the motion and therefore approve the application conditionally.